During one of the sessions on accompaniment in cross cultural settings, Sunitha Mortha talked about the importance of reflecting on our own culture when going to live in another culture. I found it very interesting to reflect on some generalizations of U.S. culture. A few years ago, a dear acquaintance asked me, "What is your culture?" and I just didn't know how to respond. The U.S. is so multicultural, that it is hard to define. Even the name, United States, is vague (The Mexican United States, for example, is the full name for Mexico. There are plenty of "united states" in the world, so why don't we have a name to make the United States I am from distinct?). Most U.S. citizens can look back a few generations and know that their great great grandparents never even saw this land that is now called the U.S. Yet, there are some generalizations that describe ways many U.S. citizens are conditioned to understand the world and ways which the U.S., though young, is forming as a culture. Of course, the generalizations do not reflect all U.S. citizen's beliefs, but they do reflect some of the ideologies that are shaping U.S. culture. It is important to consider the ideologies of the "most dominant - in terms of economic power" culture in the world, because unfortunately, so many cultural viewpoints are judged in relationship to the U.S. As I consider these generalizations, I want to stretch myself to experience in different ways, while acknowledging: sometimes appreciating, and sometimes being angered by, the cultural viewpoints that have influenced me (at times without my awareness). I feel trapped when told I cannot escape the confines of my culture, because it has been so ingrained in me that I am swimming in it. I feel that while we are hugely influenced by our culture, our creation and perspective as unique thoughtful human beings often puts us at odds with our culture. In any culture, I think there are ways which our individual selves clash, conform, or converge. The following generalizations are some of the dominant viewpoints of U.S. culture, which those who live in the U.S. reflect and refract. I am going to write several of them out, because I feel that reflecting on these U.S. lenses is important, especially to realize these are just some of the millions of ways to perceive life. Through remembering that, we are liberated to see at least a little bit outside the box of our own culture, and remember "there are so many ways to do life!" 1.)One aspect we talked about is the intense individuality that is part of U.S. culture. Sunitha Mortha described it as "a crushing pressure on the individual," and that often, people who live in the U.S. feel at fault if they cannot make themselves happy, if they are suffering, or experience misfortune. This creates a very big pressure to be "successful."
2.) We talked about the general U.S. attitude toward change: most people who live in the U.S. see change as a positive thing: Change is valued over traditions, while in other cultures, change may be experienced as loss. Our attitude towards age in the U.S. is that aging is not desirable. Since we are steeped in a Protestant work ethic, work and doing are important, and so since older people are not as "productive," age is not valued as much.
3.) People who live in the U.S. often see humans as inherently good, instead of inherently a blend of good and bad traits, or purely bad traits. This means people who live in the U.S. are often more likely to trust others sooner, while in some cultures, it may take longer to build trust.
4.) We also discussed since people who live in the U.S. believe so much in choice, people who live in the U.S. therefore believe people can choose to be good or bad.
5.) Sunitha explained how people who live in the U.S. often see risks as being good because they lead to growth and change. Yet in some cultures, taking risks may be perceived as foolish or destructive.
6.) People who live in the U.S. often perceive time as linear. Yet, Sunitha asked us, what if time is a circle? If time is a circle, then we will always be in time, so there is always more than enough, and what is the hurry?
6.) Sunitha's presentation explained how in the U.S., one has to prove her/himself. Those influenced by U.S. culture believe in earning self esteem instead of being born into it or being given it because of our position, or age. Similarly, those from the U.S. value the concept of equality, yet we also live with this paradox that if someone gets to a higher position, then they earned it.
7.) Sunitha talked a lot about Individualist vs. Collectivist cultures. She shared with us that the Collective is valued over the individual in over 2/3 of the world's cultures. Yet, U.S. culture is very much in contrast to collective ways of seeing and perceiving life.
Sunitha mentioned other generalizations, and there are many other ways that U.S. culture can be defined that we didn't discuss. For me, reflecting on these few generalizations was fascinating as some ways my culture has formed me were articulated. Of course, we are all wider and more complex than our culture too! There are ways which we don't fit into our culture, and this is what makes us so wonderfully indefineable and unique. There are so many cultures that are too rich to be compared to U.S. culture. In our world, where so many places are becoming "americanized," it is important to consider the serious consequences of putting one set of beliefs as superior to another. We so quickly can lose touch with challenge and blessing of diversity. "Do you know what you hold close to your heart?" Sunitha asked us. She reminded us that it is not a choice for the minority culture to adopt or at least learn the majority culture, and sometimes having to reconcile what is close to their heart with another cultural viewpoint. Considering the dominating ways the U.S. behaves in the world economy, what does this say about the majority of the world's population? She emphasized that immigrants or refugees are in a vulnerable place, culturally and otherwise, because they are forced to take on the humbling challenge of adapting. Its important to recognize the different values and beliefs of those from different cultures, and suspend value judgments, allowing others to be who they are. Sunitha ended by saying, "If you take away the very thing that gives meaning to people, you destroy people." We all find meaning and value in different ways, and so we can be humble and open to other ways, too.
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